New Zealand bats first in the First Test

Jesse Hogan and Will Brodie

AUSTRALIAN cricket fans will get an immediate look at their country's two newest pacemen, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc, after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first at the Gabba.

Despite muggy and overcast conditions Black Caps captain Ross Taylor decided his team would be better off making first use of the overtly green pitch in Brisbane.

Starc, a tall NSW left-armer, won the last Test pace slot ahead of Queenslander Ben Cutting. He was this morning presented with his baggy green cap by former Australian captain and revered television commentator Richie Benaud.

Retired seamer and new part-time selector Andy Bichel presented Victorian Pattinson with his cap, while David Warner was officially welcomed into the Test team by another NSW opening batsman, Michael Slater.

After respectable, but patchy results against Sri Lanka and South Arfrica on the road, Australia's captain Michael Clarke leads his troops on home soil. Photo: Reuters

Mitchell endorsed Taylor’s unorthodox pitch reading technique.

"I think its not a bad way to look at the wicket actually, because if your knuckles go in a bit, it generally sort of tells you what the ball’s going to do. If it goes in a touch, it might seam around a bit more."

If Taylor is satisfied, it means his knuckle did not get far into the Gabba surface. New Zealand has often struggled at the Brisbane venue, which is usually much bouncier and quicker than Kiwi pitches. The Black Caps last defeated Australia at the Gabba in 1985, when superstar paceman Richard Hadlee routed the locals with 15 wickets, including 9/52 in the first innings. It remains their only victory at the venue.

Former Australian spinner Bryce McGain, still plying his trade successfully in domestic T20 ranks backed former teammate and Australian debutante James Pattinson to prove a handful for the Kiwi batsmen.